Chapter 11

Thursday, 22 May 2003

1045 EST

Wood's Home

"Becky, thank you again for watching the twins while I go into town," Kara Chegwidden said to her friend as she dropped Andi and Jerry off.

"You know I don't mind, I just wonder why you don't ask me to do it more often!" Becky replied.

Kara laughed, "Maybe because you have a baby of your own to be looking after!"

"Silly! Your two are no trouble! Especially with the military training AJ has instilled into them!"

"Oh, yeah! We saw how well they were trained at Little AJ's birthday party!" as they remember the wading pool fiasco, both women laugh until there were tears running down their faces.

"You have to admit that was the funniest thing we have ever seen! I only wish we had had a video camera there to blackmail AJ and George for the rest of their natural lives!" Becky sighed.

"Well, I had better get going or I will be late for my appointment," Kara said as she headed for the door.

"Tell my husband 'hi' for me."

Kara looked startled and then resigned at her friend's request, "So much for doctor/patient confidentiality," she sighed.

Becky laughed, "He mentioned at breakfast that he was going to see you today when I told him you were bringing the twins by. Yearly check up or something else?"

"I don't know if I should tell you…you know how you are about keeping a secret!"

"I am a professional psychiatrist! I have to keep secrets for a living!" Becky protested.

"Yes, but in your private life you suck at it!" Kara teased.

"Fine, don't tell me! I will get it out of George when he gets home!"

"He wouldn't dare!"

"Sure he would, I will just withhold sex!"

"Yeah, that would do it! Both those old sea dogs are oversexed!" Kara declared.

"So true! And aren't we glad of it!"

"Well, I know I am! Now I really do have to go or I will be late for my love tryst with your hubby!"

"Yeah, yeah, give him a kiss for me!" Becky instructed.

"You know I will, just to see him blush!"

Thursday, 22 May 2003

1105 EST

Bethesda Naval Hospital

Bethesda, Maryland

"You are late, Kara!" George said as he walked into the room.

"Yes. I know, your wife kept me chatting," she smiled and then stood up on tiptoe and kissed his cheek, "She said to give you that!"

As predicted, George blushed like a teenager, and Kara smiled tenderly at him. He was so in love with his wife that he never knew how attractive he was to other women. Not that Kara would ever think of straying from her own sexy SEAL, but she had to admit that George was a handsome man.

"Up on the table with you, or I will tell AJ that you have been kissing me!" Woodie threatened.

"And he will break your nose!" she laughed.

"You are probably right," he grinned back at her. Just as George was finishing the ultrasound that Kara had come in for, he was called away on an emergency. He quickly excused himself as the nurse explained that the doctor would call her with the results of the test as soon as he had them. Kara thanked the nurse and left the hospital.

1530 EST

Dulles International Airport

Sturgis had made sure his schedule was clear so he could leave the office early to pick up Francesca at the airport. He was waiting at her arrival gate when she came off the plane. She came down the hallway with such style and grace, and when she spotted Sturgis there waiting for her she paused for just a minute before hurrying over to him.

"Sturgis!" she exclaimed and gave him a kiss on each cheek.

He could get used to this European form of greeting! Smiling he hugged her and then suggested that they be on their way to baggage claim.

"You will not fuss at the amount of luggage I have, will you?" she asked. "Papa' always does!'

Sturgis laughed and said, "No, you are allowed as much luggage as you like!"

"Ooooh, I like you better all the time!" she declared.

"That's good to hear," he told her.

To be continued…